Is local TV Killing Attendance??

[Landscapepoke]

Is local television killing attendance at GIA? Think about it. We used to fill GIA several years ago against all non conference foes, but now days most every game is televised locally, and the actual number of people showing up to games is dropping.

I know its dead week for the students, and the apocalyptic weather men were predicting the end of man kind ice storm last night that might have kept most alums away, but I can remember back when the new GIA was built and it was at least ¾ full (10,000
+/- actual attendance) for non conference games.

Eddie started winning every game, and every game was sold out, so they started putting the games on local television. Should we black out the local markets to get the attendance back up? Yes you can argue with the first line in this paragraph that Eddie was winning every game, and Sean is struggling, that’s not the point of this thread.

We know GIA is sold out every year, but people are only attending the “Big Games” or conference only games. Should OSU stop televising home games on local television to make those who have season tickets get off their butts and start attending all the home games?

What will it take to get people to actually come to games and “pack the house” like days of old. Many people are posting that GIA is not as loud as years past. It’s hard to keep GIA the Rowdiest Arena in the Country when there are only half the people there.

I think we need to stop broadcasting home games on local television until attendance numbers climb back to a more respectable number. Keep the ESPN broadcasts, but stop the local broadcasts on lesser games like last night.


07-08 so far
Washington 9386
TA&MCC 8008
East Texas 7887

[BackHomePoke]

To the average loyal fan the $530 season ticket plus whatever donor fee attatched is getting too much. You tend to sell out to a group of more affulent fans who it doesn't matter if they miss a game or not because the financial sacrifice is not as great to them. They have other obligations and committements to rather than attend a ballgame. The athletic department still receives their money so it's no skin off their chin. I just wish that they would either sell or donate their tickets to people who want to attend but can not afford the ticket. Now the student body is something different, maybe they need to open the tickets sales up to them without having to purchase the all sports ticket. I am disappointed that more students don't attend because they are the energy at the games. I guess as you get older in life you appreciate things more. If I was still in school, I'd attend every sporting event that I possibly could!

[JimBob]

Per today's TW, our attendance last night was 12,861. Not sure where they pulled that number from, but I've got a good idea.:D

[OSUSTORM]

I personally am not in favor of a local blackout. We need fans and blacking out TV will not help increase the fan base. I don't know of anyone in Stillwater that is staying home to watch a game when they have tickets! Maybe some of those in Tulsa or OKC are staying home

[wickerbill]

As someone who has had season tickets since the expansion I can say that while this year's non-conference attendance appears to be a bit lower than past years, we have never consistently filled the place up for all non-conference games.

[jakeman]

Per today's TW, our attendance last night was 12,861. Not sure where they pulled that number from, but I've got a good idea.:D

I'm not sure there were 12,861 people in a 1 mile radius of GIA for that game.

[JimBob]

I'm not sure there were 12,861 people in a 1 mile radius of GIA for that game.


I'm sure you saw the crowd at the "Maus" for the SFA fold; hell, we were full compared to that putz-fest.:D

[jakeman]

I'm sure you saw the crowd at the "Maus" for the SFA fold; hell, we were full compared to that putz-fest.:D

Drove by on the way to lunch, and thought maybe the game had been canceled. Not a lota cars at the 'ole LNM.:D

[osujane]

I think 2 straight NIT appearances are killing attendance more than games being televised. JMO

[andyokstate]

As someone who has had season tickets since the expansion I can say that while this year's non-conference attendance appears to be a bit lower than past years, we have never consistently filled the place up for all non-conference games.

You are absolutely right. I really thought the game against UW would be a packed house and was really disappointed when it was nowhere near a sellout. Since the expansion, the two seats immediately to my left are owned by Tulsa bank. It's a different set of people for each game, if they show up at all. My favorite was a guy who asked, "What time do we need to leave the game so I can get out of the parking lot easier." Ahhh!